President 41 International – address at the 41 International 2016 HYM at Bangalore / India

The 41 International Board welcomes you all to our HYM in Bangalore. 26 countries are present, where of 2 countries Hungary and Kuweit are guest countries, which means no 41 International member at this point.

A few topics on 41 International matters… There is good news on the development of our wonderful organization. The 41 International 2016 AGM in Landshut attracted more visitors than ever before. Nearly 460 Tablers / Oldies joined the event and experienced a thrilling weekend with prior Pre-Tours to enjoy fun and fellowship, simply “took a bath in Tabling spirit” ! Of course there has been the Business part as well, but also this part was heavily used to exchange information and finally ended in voting on several topics. This active / vibrant attitude also happening now at this 41 International HYM in Bangalore, India. 572 registered participants enjoy the weekend with great fun and fellowship.

Suriname brought its application for membership forward, Portugal USA and Hungary are in the pipeline for next year. The 41 International community is growing and expanding to further countries step by step. Although we are very happy and excited for the growth of our organization, a lot of work is still needed to be done. Mika from Finland has been voted for Secretary following Sid, who has been doing over the last 4 years a fantastic job, including working hard on the communication initiates. He has been issuing the monthly Communique, which is positively received by all members around the world. As we have to further improve active communication as one identified strategic topic, the 41 International Board has asked Sid to fill the role of Communication Manager to focus on distributing regularly latest news and work with the associations editors on this. Decision has been made on the chain of incoming Vice-Presidency. After South Africa and Austria, Belgium will take Presidency.

Finally a few words on the program of my presidential year. First of all there will be NO change of strategy and direction on what we have been building and following over the last 3 years. We have jointly delivered, the 41 International Board, many associations and we are continuing to deliver on the topics we have defined in our Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is still the guidance and direction we are moving. The identified action items are the focus. A lot has been already achieved as presented by Makarios in his outgoing speech at the AGM in Landshut. I do not go into the details. All this information can be viewed and downloaded from the 41 International Website.

The board was and is very much focused on further improvement of the relationship with RTI. The board has given guidance to the associations to do the same with their respective RT organizations. The initial discussions on the national MoUs and the related 10 point action plans have helped in each national organization to come closer between the organizations and start doing joint activities. In case you have not done this in your national association, please work on this. The agreed actions have to practically follow! Please start reporting on your “working together” achievements to Sid for communication. Also upload this onto your section in the new 41 International website.

The Young Ambasator Program (YAP) is developing well. All tours were fully booked. With the short version of the YAP program initiated from Cyprus by Makarios, where a small group of youngsters are traveling it is much easier to handle such a tour, so also manageable by smaller countries. The news from the just finished YAP Tour is that it is a great success and for sure complements the big tours to / from India and South Africa. The 2016 tours are now finished. The 2017 tours are in planning stage. Christoph Haenssler has now taken the 41 International responsibility for the YAP program. Please get in touch with Christoph in case of any questions.

41ers to identify young men as candidates for Round Table… This is not a “can do” topic. It is a “must do” as we all need to help growing Round Table with high quality members. As 41ers we are “matured” in our jobs, we own / run companies… we see young men at our workplace or in our3 families that potentially could become Round Tablers. Let’s talk to them and create motivation to join our wonderful organization. What can we improve to get attention of young men for the Round Table movement?

Obviously we need to approach them at the first contact in the best way to raise motivation. We try to do it by explaining what we are and what our experience is. We always talk about us… From experience this approach rarely works. We have to avoid at that moment to talk about us, what we are, what fun and fellowship we have, parties and also projects… this is not what is important to this applicant at this point!! This young man in front of you has one simple hidden question, which he will not ask, but expects to be answered:

“WHAT IS IN FOR ME?” WHY SHOULD I BECOME A TABLER, DESPITE OF ALL THE PRIORITIES I ALREADY HAVE?

In this initial conversation we have to point out that being a Round Tabler he will develop his personality and experience, which will help him to be in front of the day to day tough competition in his job and in the society. He will learn free speech, learn how to plan and run projects, will learn team work, will build a enormous network and will be with likeminded Tables giving insight into their professional world enabling to also learn from that. This first conversation for sure will trigger in most cases motivation to join Rounds Table. I have seen this approach working well, so let’s try and use it to attract young men to become Round Tablers! It is obvious: When Round Table is doing well and is growing, we 41ers will do well and will growing. So let’s help Round Table to help us!

There is one additional topic stated in the Strategy Plan that I have chosen to start working on it in my presidential year: The harmonization of our name.

Why is this topic important for the future of our organization?
A short summary of thought and reflection: on association level we have developed away from each other over the years. Some call themselves 41 Club, some Old Tablers, some Ex-Tablers, some Tablers +, etc. Reality is that we have no global unique identifier looking from the outside world to our international organization. We are not known in the public. On top of that we struggle to explain what we are. Successful organizations have a set of common objectives and very importantly one common name, which is basically one word as identifier: Lions, Rotary, Kiwani, Zonta, … all have chosen one word. We need to look into this and address the issue. The first step on the journey has been done at the workshop held in Bangalore at the HYM. The 41 International board will summarize this information and send it to the associations for further discussion at their AGMs.
A common set of objectives combined with a common name will help enormously to marked us globally and surface our organization in the public. The importance of this topic has inspired me in defining my presidential motto: We are Tablers! No matter if we are Round Tablers or 41ers!

Charity pin… I am very proud and honored to continue with the use of the Side by Side Round Table International and 41 International logos on my banner and also on my pin. I have decided to follow the way that my predecessor Makarios has started doing. I am selling this pin for 5 Euro. I hope to raise with this action carried out in my Presidents year about 6500 Euro, which will be used for a charity project decided together with RTI. Makarios has raised during his year 5000 Euro with his sale. The money has been handed over to RT Nepal supporting the “all4Nepal” project, rebuilding damaged or destroyed schools to enable education. I have the pins with me and I will go around later and sell them to you!

Dear fellow Tablers (Round or Old),
As a summary my message is short: Please focus and continue working actively with your Round Table organization on national and club level! This will ensure that both organizations will have a bright future!

Together we are much stronger. We are Tablers!

Have a great Business Meeting and AGM!
Yicf
Engelbert Friedsam
41 International President 2016 – 2017